Iowa Travel Industry Partners Announces First Round Recipients of Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship
[Iowa] — Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP), in collaboration with the Iowa Tourism Office, part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, is proud to announce the recipients of the January 2026 round of the Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship.
A total of 13 tourism professionals from across Iowa were awarded a combined $21,720 to support attendance at regional and national professional development conferences. These opportunities will enhance individual skill sets while strengthening Iowa’s tourism and hospitality industry statewide.
“The Iowa Tourism Office is proud to continue its partnership with Iowa Travel Industry Partners to support the growth and development of industry members through the Elevate Iowa scholarship program”, said Amy Zeigler, State Tourism Manager at the Iowa Tourism Office. “Investing in education and professional growth ensures Iowa’s tourism leaders are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to grow visitation and strengthen communities across the state.”
The Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship supports Iowa’s tourism and hospitality professionals by covering up to 60% of eligible expenses, including event registration, travel, and lodging, with awards of up to $2,250 per recipient. January 2026 recipients represent destinations, attractions, museums, sports commissions, and community organizations from multiple tourism areas across Iowa.
Conferences Supporting Professional Growth
Recipients will use the Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship to attend a variety of professional development opportunities that strengthen leadership, marketing, advocacy, and destination management skills across Iowa’s tourism industry. Funded conferences in this round include:
- ADOBE MAX – A premier creativity conference focused on digital marketing, content creation, and storytelling strategies.
- American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting – The largest annual convening of museum professionals, focused on operations, engagement, and long-term sustainability.
- Destinations International Annual Convention – The leading global gathering for destination organization professionals, focused on destination leadership, marketing, and management best practices.
- ESPA Annual Conference – Professional development for tourism and destination professionals who support and service conferences, meetings, and events being hosted.
- Sports ETA Women’s Summit – A leadership and networking event supporting women working in sports tourism and event development.
“These recipients reflect the wide range of roles and organizations that make up Iowa’s tourism industry,” said Chelsea Lerud, Executive Director of Iowa Travel Industry Partners. “Supporting their professional development helps bring new ideas, skills, and energy back to communities across the state, strengthening Iowa’s visitor economy as a whole.”
The full list of scholarship recipients is available online.
Additional Funding Round Planned for 2026
Following the January 2026 awards, iTIP will open the next round of Elevate Iowa Tourism: Education Scholarship funding later this month. Of the $40,000 available for the 2026 program year, $18,280 remains to support additional tourism and hospitality professionals pursuing professional development opportunities.
- Application Period: January 26, 2026 at 10 AM – February 13, 2026 at 12 PM
- Recipients Announced: By March 2, 2026
Additional details and application information are available at: https://iowatravelindustry.org/news/elevate-iowa-tourism-education-scholarship/.
Images of 2025 Recipients Attending Conferences
